A TREMENDOUS fightback saw Darlington draw at Kidderminster Harriers despite trailing by two goals deep into the second half.

Terry Galbraith and Dave Syers scored inside the final 11 minutes to change the scoreline from 3-1 to 3-3, securing Tommy Wright’s first point in his third game in charge.

The result is a boost for the boss and the team, who have suffered some poor results of late, losing 3-1 to Blyth and 3-0 to Brackley in Wright’s first two matches.

Following last week’s poor display against Brackley, Wright made sweeping changes today, altering both the starting XI and formation.

He handed starts to Ed Wilczynski, new signing Josh Heaton, Gary Brown, Joe Wheatley and Harvey Saunders, while switched to a bold 3-5-2.

Stephen Thompson was on the right with Wheatley the furthest forward of the three in the middle, Tom Portas and Phil Turnbull behind him, and it was the all-change Quakers who started better.

Thompson got down the right two or three times and put a couple of good crosses in, both headed away by a Kidderminster team that had not threatened until Andre Brown missed a chance in the 15th minute.

He then scored with the next opportunity that came his way just a minute later.

Brown executed a first-time finish after a right-wing Pearson cross, ghosting unchallenged into the penalty area.

Turnbull took the ball off Elton Ngwatala’s toes when Kidderminster countered after Gary Brown had slipped in possession inside his own half, and a second goal looked likely until the Darlington midfielder made a crucial tackle.

Darlington were denied themselves when Kidderminster keeper Brandon Hall’s quick reactions saw him get down low to save Gary Brown’s snap-shot after a Turnbull free-kick from deep, and then a Galbraith shot across goal was cleared for a corner.

But it was 2-0 on 38 minutes, midfielder James McQuilkin with the final touch. It was another move up the right and a short pass inside the penalty area, Ngwatala, Ryan Croasdale and McQuilkin combining before the latter’s deft finish in off the post.

It soon almost became 2-0, Darlington indebted to Dom Collins for a last-ditch tackle on Joe Ironside just as the striker was about to pull the trigger inside the penalty area.

There had not been much between the teams however, and the scoreline became a greater reflection of play when Quakers pulled one back before half-time.

The move began with a well-timed Heaton tackle inside his own penalty area, play switching to the other end where Nathan Cartman sent Saunders down the left, the youngster then delivering a low ball into the box from the left into his team-mate’s direction, only for Harriers’ James Pearson to inadvertently turn the ball home for 2-1.

The goal gave Darlington hope, the one-goal lead certainly not insurmountable in the second half, but it was not long before Kidderminster strengthened their advantage.

They led 3-1 on 54 minutes, Ngwatala with a lovely shot on the turn after being surrounded by defenders.

From here it was a long way back from for Darlington, who by this stage had not got into their stride in the second half and made a double substitution: James Caton and Josh Gillies for Tom Portas and Stephen Thompson, and changed formation.

For a spell Kidderminster looked comfortable and spurned chances to go further ahead.

Fraser Horsfall had the ball in the net but the flag was raised for offside, and eye-catching midfielder McQuilkin was narrowly off target after good play by Ngwatala.

There was a brief stoppage when referee Martin Rawcliffe required treatment, and an announcement on the PA was made, asking: “If anyone in the stadium is a qualified linesman can they make themselves known to the nearest steward.”

Rawcliffe was able to continue, however, and he was soon signalling a goal that gave Darlington hope of a point during an incident-packed closing stages.

Syers, on for Cartman, kept the ball in play and headed into Collins’ path for the Darlington defender to swing the ball in for Galbraith to meet powerfully, making it 3-2 with 11 minutes to play, plenty of time for a leveller.

Quakers’ chances of equalising increased two minutes later when Kidderminster’s Tyrone Williams was red-carded, the half-time substitute clashing with livewire Saunders, who had won a corner when taking the ball to the byline.

Williams confronted the 20-year-old and appeared to motion towards Saunders with his head, earning a red card and giving Quakers increased impetus.

Darlington were temporarily down to ten men when Collins required treatment, the defender eventually returning in the 87th minute, in time for one last hurrah.

The Kidderminster crumbled. Having been in control at 3-1, they were now showing a fragility that Quakers exploited, the visitors finally scoring in the 89th minute.

Syers got it, his fourth goal of the season, the 76th minute substitute rising highest to meet a corner whipped in by Gillies to earn Darlington a deserved draw.

Goals: A Brown (16, 1-0); McQuilkin (38, 2-0); Pearson og (45, 2-1); Ngwatala (54, 3-1); Galbraith (79, 3-2); Syers (89, 3-3)

Bookings: G Brown (27, foul); McQuilkin (36, foul); Heaton (58, foul), Wheatley (64, foul), Turnbull (90, dissent)

Referee: Martin Rawcliffe

Attendance: 1,879 (186 visiting fans)

Kidderminster Harriers (3-4-3): Hall; Taylor (Williams 46), Horsfall, O’Connor; Pearson, Croasdale, McQuilkin, Weeks; Ngwatala, Ironside, Brown (Austin 80). Subs (not used): Wright, Sonupe, Truslove

Darlington (3-5-2): Wilczynski; Collins, Heaton, Brown; Thompson (Caton 61), Portas (Gillies 61), Turnbull, Wheatley, Galbraith; Cartman (Syers 76), Saunders. Subs (not used): Marrs, Scott